Quick connecting device for ducts in motor vehicles

ABSTRACT

It allows quick and effective coupling of a first duct end (female member) and a second duct end (male member). The male member includes an outer circumferential groove and the female member has two outer protrusions defining respective inner recesses adapted for receiving sealing and locking gaskets. When assembled, the female member extends to the male member without covering the circumferential groove thereof. A fastening clip is provided fitted into the groove of the male member and also into the groove defined between the protrusions of the female member, holding them axially in place.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application for a Patent of Invention refers to a quickconnecting device for ducts in motor vehicles which novel manufacturing,conformation and design features fulfil the purpose to which it has beenspecifically conceived, with a maximum safety and effectiveness and withmany advantages, as will be fully disclosed hereinafter in the presentspecification.

More particularly, there is provided a quick connecting device for ductsin motor vehicles which is intended for the quick connection of a firstduct end to a second duct end. The quick connecting device of theinvention is intended particularly, but not exclusively, to connect theair cooling duct to the turbo outlet duct of the motor vehicle engine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Standardization in the turbo outlet duct end of the engine (second ducthereinafter) on the part of each manufacturer makes it necessary todesign a quick connecting device particularly and accurately adapted tomanufacturing requirements. As a general rule, the second duct,particularly sized according to each manufacturer, is provided with acoupling end (referred herein to as male member) wherein said aircooling duct is to be coupled (first duct hereinafter) through a quickconnecting device. Said coupling end of the above mentioned second ductis adapted for snugly receiving a fastening clip which purpose is tohold in place the first and the second ducts through said quickconnecting device.

Quick connecting devices currently being manufactured for this purposeare formed basically of a female bush-like tubular body associated withsaid first duct, that is, with the air cooling duct coming out from theturbo of the motor vehicle engine. The inner surface of said female bushis suitably adapted to fit the outer surface of said second duct end(that is to say, the male member). Said male member has a peripheralgroove where a sealing o-ring is received.

When assembled, the first duct end (female member) is attached to saidtubular body (male member) that is fitted therein so that the femalemember covers said circumferential groove of the male member.

The female member, that is, the first duct end, has typically a groovecomplementary to the groove of the male member to allow coupling of thefastening clip.

Although the design of these coupling devices is advantageous in thesense that an easy and comfortable coupling in assembly, maintenance andrepair operations of the ducts being connected is achieved, however ithas been found in practice that the working conditions that theconnecting device is subjected (high temperatures and vibrations) resultin many connecting faults. In particular, it has been found that thefemale member is usually broken since, as stated before, vibrations towhich it is subjected in conjunction with the high temperatures to whichit is also subjected result in expansion of the circumferential groovethus forming a crack leading to fatigue cracking of the coupling end ofthe cooling duct (first duct). This problem has forced users using saidconnecting system to take their motor vehicles for repairing so thatsaid quick connecting device is duly replaced for a new one.

Later attempts have been carried out for overcoming these problems. Oneof the proposed solutions at present for reducing the possibilities ofbreakage of the connecting device consists, for example, in increasingthe wall thickness in the connecting area, specially in the connectingarea where the circumferential groove of the female member is formed,that is the area where the breakage of the device begins. However,machining difficulties for obtaining the final piece with this increasedthickness at a given area and the increase of material required resultin a considerably increased cost of said device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a new quick connecting device such thatovercoming said disadvantages is made possible, keeping the advantagesof the quick connection of the first and the second ducts.

Therefore, the quick connecting device of the present invention does notuse the previously described configuration in connection with the priorart and it has a novel configuration, which is perfectly adapted to thestandards provided by the manufacturer regarding the second duct end(male member) (engine turbo outlet).

The quick connecting device of the invention comprises a bush-like body(female member) associated with a first duct. The term “associated” asused herein means that the female member may be either coupled by anysuitable means to said first duct or it may be integral thereto.

The inner surface of said bush or female member is adapted for receivinga second duct end (male member). This male member, associated with thesecond duct, has a circumferential groove on the outer surface thereof.When assembled, the female member, that is to say, the first duct end,extends to the male member but without covering said circumferentialgroove thereof.

The surface of the female member end is provided with two outerprotrusions forming respective inner recesses adapted for receivingsealing gaskets. This double-inner recess configuration of the femalemember allows arranging a first sealing gasket and a second lockinggasket between the male member and the female member to ensure a tighterand more effective connection.

Causes of breakage of the connecting device are therefore eliminated bythe invention by successfully eliminating connection faults between theducts.

Axial retention of the male member regarding the female member iscarried out by means of a fastening clip comprising substantially twoU-shaped coupling members. One of said coupling members is fitted intothe outer circumferential groove of the bush while the other is fittedinto the outer groove defined between said protrusions in said femalemember end.

A very effective quick connecting device with a long working useful lifeis therefore obtained, thus withstanding well the working conditions inthe motor vehicle engine, with a very reduced cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and the advantages of the present invention will be clearerfrom the description of a preferred embodiment than will be given by wayof a non limitative example. This description is given hereinafter inconnection with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the male bush associated with the secondduct;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway elevational view of the male member in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the female member associated with thefirst duct;

FIG. 4 is a cutaway elevational view of the female member of the firstduct in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing the fastening clip as seenfrom the front and the back, respectively;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view showing the male member fitted into thefemale member of the first duct;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a longitudinal cross-section of theassembly in FIG. 7 shown in its assembled condition;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views showing the assembly in FIG. 7 inits assembled condition as seen from the front and the back,respectively; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view in which the different parts forming thequick connecting device for ducts in motor vehicles of the invention areshown in its disassembled condition to see the assembly sequencethereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the figures attached in the present specification, anexample of a quick connecting device according to the present inventionis now described. In the specific example shown in the figures, thedevice is intended for connecting the cooling air duct (first duct) tothe turbo outlet duct of the motor vehicle engine (second duct). Bothducts have not been shown since they are not the object of theinvention.

The first and the second ducts are coupled to each other and they arenot allowed of being axially displaced, said coupling being tightbecause of the device of the invention, which will be fully describedbelow.

The device of the invention basically comprises a bush-like body (60)(female member hereinafter) adapted for receiving a second duct end (50)(male member hereinafter) therein.

This female member (60) has one end (65) for coupling with the malemember (50) and one end (66) for connection with the first duct. Thisconnection with the first duct may be carried out either by anyconventional means or it may be integral thereto.

The female member (60) is provided, in the outer surface thereof, with acircumferential groove (61) defined by two outer parallel protrusions(62, 63), as it can be seen from the view of FIG. 4. These parallelprotrusions (62, 63) are capable of receiving respective gaskets (67,68) therein, as shown in FIG. 8. Therefore, by providing two gaskets(67, 68), one acts as a sealing gasket and the other one acts as alocking gasket, thus ensuring a tight and effective connection.

The device is adapted for snugly receiving a fastening clip referencedby (100) which configuration can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6 of thedrawings herein attached.

The male member (50) has one end (52) for connection with the femalemember (60), through its respective connection end (65) and one end (53)for connection with the second duct, that is to say, the turbo outletduct of the motor vehicle engine. The male member (50) is furtherprovided, on the outer surface thereof, with a circumferential groove(51) adapted for receiving said fastening clip (100).

From its assembled condition shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 of the drawings, itmay be seen how the female member (60) extends to the outside of themale member (50) without covering said circumferential groove (51) ofthe male member (50), as opposed to prior art devices. Thisparticularity is clearly shown in the cutaway view in FIG. 8, in whichit may be seen that the end portion of the female member (60) does notcover the circumferential groove (51) of the male member (50). Thepurpose of such design is eliminating the possibilities of breakage ofthe female member (60) and thus ensuring the connection between theducts.

As it can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6, the fastening clip (100) comprisesa single member suitably shaped to define two substantially U-shapedcoupling members (101, 102). One of said coupling members (101) isadapted to be fitted into the circumferential groove (51) of the malemember (50) while the other coupling member (102) is adapted to befitted into the outer groove (61) defined between said protrusions (62,63) of the female member (60) of the first duct, as it can be seen fromFIG. 4.

The device of the invention is shown in its assembled condition in FIG.10, and in the exploded view of FIG. 11 it is shown in its disassembledcondition. Said FIG. 11 shows how the male member (50) has to be fittedinto the female member (60) for subsequently assembling the fasteningclip (100), the assembly being as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.

1. A quick connecting device for ducts in motor vehicles, comprising of:a female member having first and second opposite ends, and an outersurface with first and second circumferential protrusions; a male memberhaving first and second opposite ends, and an outer surface with acircumferential groove, said male member being receivable in said femalemember at said first end of said female member without said first end ofsaid female member covering said circumferential groove; first andsecond sealing members disposed between said first and secondcircumferential protrusions, respectively, of said female member andsaid outer surface of said male member; and a fastening member disposedaround said female and male members so as to be in direct contact withthe first circumferential protrusion of said female member and receivedin the groove of said male member in a manner that compresses the firstsealing member, the fastening member thereby holding said female andmale members axially in place.
 2. A quick connecting device according toclaim 1, wherein said fastening member includes first and secondsubstantially U-shaped coupling portions, one of said first and secondcoupling portions being received in said circumferential groove of saidmale member and the other of said coupling portions being fitted intothe groove defined between the first and the second circumferentialprotrusions of the female member.
 3. A quick connecting device accordingto claim 1, wherein said first and second sealing members are first andsecond gaskets, respectively.
 4. A quick connecting device according toclaim 1, wherein said fastening member is a fastening clip.
 5. A quickconnecting device for ducts in motor vehicles, comprising of: a femalemember having first and second opposite ends, and an outer surface withfirst and second circumferential protrusions; a male member having firstand second opposite ends and an outer surface with a circumferentialgroove and an inclined surface, said male member being receivable insaid female member at said first end of said female member with firstand second sealing members respectively disposed between said first andsecond protrusions of said female member and said outer surface of saidmale member, and said male member being receivable in said female memberat said first end of said female member without said first end of saidfemale member covering said circumferential groove; said first sealingmember being located on said inclined surface; and a fastening memberdisposed around said female and male members so as to be in contact withthe first circumferential protrusion of said female member and receivedin the groove of said male member in a manner that compresses the firstsealing member, the fastening member thereby holding said female andmale members axially in place.
 6. A quick connecting device according toclaim 5, wherein said fastening member includes first and secondsubstantially U-shaped coupling portions, one of said first and secondcoupling portions being received in said circumferential groove of saidmale member and the other of said coupling portions being fitted intothe groove defined between the first and the second circumferentialprotrusions of the female member.
 7. A quick connecting device accordingto claim 5, wherein said first and second sealing members are first andsecond gaskets, respectively.
 8. A quick connecting device according toclaim 5, wherein said fastening member is a fastening clip.
 9. A quickconnecting device according to claim 5, wherein said firstcircumferential protrusion is of a larger diameter wound the said femalemember than said second circumferential protrusion.